F.W. Magic Disappearing ??

[wendy*darling]

1) Word came down last May - "EVERY GUEST DESERVES THE BEST WDW VACATION, EVER". And, woe be the CM that prevents that.

I would argue that open fires, pet in non-pet loops, neighbors washing their campers (and flooding my site), "illegal" "golf carts", and loud, late parties are ruining MY "best WDW vacation, ever".
The rules are there. Complain. And continue to do so until you are heard.
If the rules breakers win, FW will not be the paradise it has been.

[LONESTAR]

I would argue that open fires, pet in non-pet loops, neighbors washing their campers (and flooding my site), "illegal" "golf carts", and loud, late parties are ruining MY "best WDW vacation, ever".
The rules are there. Complain. And continue to do so until you are heard.
If the rules breakers win, FW will not be the paradise it has been.

What do you call a illegal golf cart.

[RocklandRVers]

Linda I think that we had gotten "spoiled" during the time following 9/11 when Disney attendance was way down. Now more folks than ever have discovered (re-discovered) Disney and this has led to many more jerks attending along with most of us non-jerks.

The "secret" is also getting out that FtW is the one true bargain among the resorts. You see this with more and more rental RVs among the diehard RVers (like me). We camp nearly every weekend (except winter) and know the rules on being a good RV neighbor. Unfortunately the renter folks do not and so cannot grasp what it means not to let kids run wild over other people's sites, etc.

There is no easy answer to this change in the guest population and I think Disney is struggling to balance what every guest's view of the magic should be. Maybe the answer is an expansion of FtW. With the explosion of the RV market, I think another large campground would attract many more RVers to Disney and help make room in a very tight FtW which was built way back before some of the larger rigs were on the market. Right across the street from FtW is a large expanse of land that to me would make an excellent campground. Instead of more rooms, which seem to never get filled, more campsites could be a good addition. Maybe a future world themed RV park to counter the old west theming of FtW?

[SoaringEpcot]

We saw people driving entirely too fast during our last stay in December. Most were the big RV's, they did not even slow down at cross walks. Also saw fires in pits as well. I think Fort Wilderness still has some magic but the rules do need to be enforced.

[LONESTAR]

I know what you mean about those big RV's . On our last stay A motor home passed a golf cart on a curve and came around the curve head on at me and the DW I had to put our golf cart in the ditch.
But know body got hurt so what you going to do. Stuff happens.

[RocklandRVers]

You know I have had the hardest time understanding WHY people rush ON VACATION! It seems so counter to what you hope to accomplish which is to RELAX from the "rat race" of the work world back home. When I have let my son drive the golf cart, I make him drive slow. I say, "we're on vacation! Whats the hurry?" Besides finally getting to be the passenger means I can concentrate on seeing the sights I missed while focused on driving. You know those little things you miss: the squirrels or the little lizards that scurry around.

No! I am on vacation. I take the lead foot off the accelerator at Fort Wilderness. I want to take it all in and enjoy every second. I know I can't do it if I am in a rush all the time.

[russk42]

I'd like to add my 2 cents on the washing: while washing doesn't bother me personally (if done politely, without flooding or pressure washers) even the best biodegredable soaps are somewhat bad for the local ecolgy, and most RV-cleaners are much worse. If everyone washed their rig during their stay, imagine the amount of detergents and other pollutants washed into the marshes and lake-- of course, I know that many RVers use water only.


Having said that, my pet peeve is the fast drivers and the teenagers with golf carts-- i hope they continue to crack down on that.

[NJ Camper]

I also have seen alot of people driving a little carelessly in the camp when we went in NOV a few people near me had a outside person there with a truck and box type trialer that was detailing big rigs they where there for 2 days But I have to say we talk each trip about going slow and spending a day just relaxing but its tough i just want to get in the parks and have fun well maybe on the next trip I will slow it down more and just take in the camp

[Running_Bell]

Security is not the problem, and FW is not the problem... the guests are the problem... atleast the selfish ones that consider a few bugs on their RV above the comfort of their neighbors, or the guests that walk their dogs and allow them to poop in another persons loop (a non pet loop) and not clean it up, or the parents who allow their teens to drive a golfcart like they're in NASCAR running other guests off the sidewalk, or the "adults" that drive the same way. We've had that happen each time we've stayed, but we keep going back because we know that there are just as many nice, considerate people camping there as there are the selfish inconsiderate people, and we just pray we're put beside the nice ones. As far as pets in non-pet loops, we've had them everytime. We always request non-pet loops and we always have people in them with pets... we're told it's overflow. Most of the time, it doesn't bother us and we hardly notice, but there are other times where people put their pets before other people. We had an older couple, who was driving their custom golf cart on the side walk, run our 8 year old off walkway and knock her off her bike. They proceeded to yell at my daugher telling her she needed to stay out of the way.... there are rude people every where, even Disney. It's alarming that half of the people on this post said it was okay to break a rule if it weren't an "important" one. Who determines that? Your non important rule may be my important rule. Does your vacation deserve to be more "magical" than mine? Be fair... follow the Golden Rule!

[NJ Camper]

It is a shame that this is what the camp has come to the problem is that disney needs to enforce there rules and people need to respect each other think how they would feel in the other persons shoes clean up after your pets ,don't take pets who bark all day if they can't handle being in a camp alone then board them,slow down think of others,just remember its a vacation you are suppose to be relaxing take the time to slow down and look around and see all the things you are going to miss by flying by a little respect and kindness will not hurt and maybe will be returned to you

[whistlewhileyouwork]

Just got back today........I had read this post weeks ago and i was concerned about what was being said........well i was so happy to be back at the fort, things are wonderful there. we had the most wonderful time.....crowded? yes, to the gills........but we had such a great time. So NO for me.......the magic is NOT dissapearing. THANK GOD or should i say MICKEY!!

[LONESTAR]

Just got back today........I had read this post weeks ago and i was concerned about what was being said........well i was so happy to be back at the fort, things are wonderful there. we had the most wonderful time.....crowded? yes, to the gills........but we had such a great time. So NO for me.......the magic is NOT dissapearing. THANK GOD or should i say MICKEY!!

Glad to here someone still likes FW besides me.

[NJ Camper]

There is NO other camp that can compare with FW but if they could get a handle on things before they get further out of control would be great I know from past experiences that lots of other camps enforce there rules i've seen camps that leave notes for people that management had a problem with there dog barking or some places only allow 2 dogs or only small ones i've heard of camps that willNOT allow you to leave your dog in camper if your not there washing is out of the ??? they enforce quiet time and have roaming security that is visible and consantly checking on people and allow small fires only depending on conditions and only in fire rings lots of camps give out a full page of do's and don'ts and they expect you to follow them and if you read the fine print at the bottom it says they will ask you to leave if you don't follow these rules its a shame that disney will let there rules be BENT to keep a few people happy even if it makes others upset guess all you can do is keep calling management and letting them know how you feel hope FW gets back to how it use to be and that people learn to respect each other and make the magic better then ever

[RJAMV5]

First of all...Welcome time2ride!!

I agree with you. Who is to say someone else's vacation is more important than yours?!?! I personally have not had any instances of any of these things happening when we have been there. We have a small dog which we are very fond of but while on vacation we leave him behind at a kennel. I personally do not want to have to go back to my rig throughout the day just to let him out. And as far as washing my rig, when we get into Ocala, I wash it at a truck stop just to remove any large bugs from the trip, then when we get home it gets a complete wash.
My solution to any of these problems would be to talk to the manager about these things and if necessary, bring him/her to the campsite to see for themselves. And always remember, this manager also has a manager!!

BTW...Thanks to whistlewhileyouwork for saying those things about your trip. Glad to hear the MAGIC is still there!! I hope our next trip is as great as yours!!!

___________________________
Next trip....July 08!!

[AHOTE]

We stayed in FW every summer for 11 years and I can remember it as being the nicest campground that I had ever visited. There were very few problems and the ones that did arise were handled quickly and descreetly by Disney staff. I don't ever remember anyone being allowed to have a dogs in the campground, that's why there's a kennel. The only animals allowed in FW should be service dogs. I can remember security patroling and those who chose to violate the rules were were given a warning and if problems continued they were told to leave. I'm sorry to hear that it's no longer that way.

[TinkInTraining]

Wow, we just went in November and didn't have any of these problems.

We bring our dog, which can't stay in a kennel, we stay in a pet loop and we've never had any problems.

The only problem we had was we had a very big water leak that lasted over two days...Disney did a good job of trying it fix it during the day when most people aren't around but other than that we had the same magical journey we always do.

As far as fast golf carts, we rent a golf cart everytime and I think they're slow! They don't have a very high speed in my opinion. But then again, we're driving them on the road and not the side walks...I've never seen anyone on the side walk with them, except on the bridge that goes to the trading post by the pool, but I think that is intended for the golf carts.

It's a shame people are driving on the side walks! Side WALK, no side ride!!

I still enjoy it. Life is to short to sweat the small stuff. When I'm on vacation I just try and enjoy it and not let other people's hastiness ruin it. It's their business if they want to live like that, I won't.

We still love FW, it's quite, our kids always make friends, our dog likes it, we like it. We always stay in the preferred pet loop so maybe that's why I'm not experiencing all the bad mentioned in the other posts. I've never had people's kids running through out site or terrible neighbors...just a bunch of people enjoying Disney...

[russk42]

one of the things that made Fort Wilderness the most magical to me was the banjo music on the hidden speakers near Settlement---last time we went (in '06), i noticed that the music was gone. I was hoping that this was only a temporary glitch...anyone been there recently, and notice the music?

[Vanlandingham]

one of the things that made Fort Wilderness the most magical to me was the banjo music on the hidden speakers near Settlement---last time we went (in '06), i noticed that the music was gone. I was hoping that this was only a temporary glitch...anyone been there recently, and notice the music?

We were there last summer and the banjo music was still prevalent...must have been a glitch. I rather enjoy it too so I would have noticed if it was gone.

As for me, I miss some of the small things that used to help make FW memorable. For example, I miss the slight fort theming that they used to have with cannons and ammunition carts scattered around the place. I miss the peacocks, the lawnmower tree (which they pretty much cut down during my last stay), having the buses named Crockett and Boone, having Crockett's Tavern as a separate smaller restaurant from Trail's End. Call me sentimental but all of these types of things really used to add to the Magic IMO.

[Camping Mom]

What happened to the peacocks???? We haven't seen them the last two times we went. Did they relocate them from Ft. W?

I love, love Ft. W and going to Disney means staying there. Our vacation is not the same if we don't. I do wish they would build more campgrounds. When you have to reserve a spot a year in advance...that's too crowded. Sometimes an opportunity comes up where you just want to hit the road and go, but you won't have a spot to park in.

I agree that I think rules have become too lax, but I think people have taken advantage of these laxes as well. And who in their right mind would run an 8 year old off their bike and tell them to get out of the way????? The man driving the golf cart had not been dusted with Pixie Dust!! Sounds to me like he needs the whole BAG!!!!

[RocklandRVers]

I asked about that back in April 07 and was told that they were relocated to Animal Kingdom. The reason? Because they made too much noise early in the morning especially for the guests in the loops closest to the marina (100-300). I miss them. Especially the large white beauty that we saw in July 2004 one evening after Hoop De Doo.

As far as the magic disappearing our trip during mid February 2008 was like coming into a new campground. Where did all the foliage go? Now you can see not only your neighbors site, but also neighboring LOOPS. WHOA! From what we were told it was for fire safety reasons, but WOW did they give the place a crew cut!